Mixed emotions about Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS — If you’re have a horse running in the Travers Stakes, you feel pretty good about the connections of Rachel Alexandra picking the Woodward over the Midsummer Derby.

If the plans are to run in the Woodward … well, not so good.

Tim Ice, the trainer of Belmont winner Summer Bird, was holding the big chestnut in front of the stakes barn early Monday morning.

Summer Bird was watching cars go down the road, he was watching other horses walk through the paddock. When Ice tried to take him back towards his stall, Summer Bird held his ground. He was in no hurry to go back inside so Ice let him stay out.

“He’s leading me around,” Ice said.

When he found out Rachel Alexandra was heading to the Woodward, Ice shed no tears.

“I’m happy,” he said. “That’s one less horse I have to beat and she would definitely have been the horse to beat. I always thought she would run in the Woodward because they (owner Jess Jackson) are out to prove to the world what she is and I believe what they think she is and everyone else thinks she is.”

Kiaran McLaughlin was sitting in a golf cart outside his barn on the main track. Last year’s leading Spa trainer had already heard the news about Rachel and that didnt’ make his day. McLaughlin is pointing Asiatic Boy to the Woodward.

Asiatic Boy missed the Whitney Handicap here earlier in the meet after spiking a temperature the night before the race.

“I don’t like it,” he said with a laugh about Rachel in the Woodward. “She is a great filly … not just a good filly or a nice filly or whatever adjective you want to use. You hate to have to run against her but our options are limited because we missed the last one.”

103 Responses

Rachel Alexandra IS the best horse in training in 2009. She did not fade out in the Preakness. Pimlico has about the WORST track of anywhere and the pace was lightning fast.
Given she was never trained to run 10F, this horse has performed spectacularly and gets my vote for the Woodward and any match race you want to have!
Just hope she stays healthy and I wish her all the best!!!

it will rain through the night and expected to end early…temp will be at best low 70′s…..GREAT for the ponies to run on…they will have the track in very good shape by STAKES time….might lose a grasser or two

R6: #6 Step out Smartly ….if she is scratched, I’ll take #7 Selva
R9: #7 Cocoa Beach ……… if she is scratched, I’ll take #3 Closeout
R10:#4 Indian Blessing…….if she is scratched, I’ll take #2 Informed Decision
R11:#8 Big Drama…………..if he is scratched, I’ll take #2 Munnings
R12:#2 Charitable Man…….if he is scratched, I’ll take #4 Quality Road

I have to hand it to you, DS, you didn’t take any chalk so no fraidy cat accusations on you. Good luck today.

Side notes: Condolences to all of you who have to be at the track today. It looks pretty bleak there today. So far this morning there are 32 scratches. Thirty two! Most of my mornings handicapping Scratchatoga’s races involve slogging through the list of declared horses….the MTO Shuffle. The other time is spent explaining to my fellow SoCal punters why the attendance figures at the Spa look so weird compared to the number actually at the track- 52,325 really means 12,325 because 40,000 are turnstile goons desperate to get door prizes like autographed aerial photographs of Tom Durkin.

Race #9: Rutherienne
Race #10: Indian Blessing
Race #11: Munnings (tough, tough race)
Race #12: (even tougher race) Kensei? Long shot special: Our Edge Actually, I would watch the board on this one and box the overlays. That may be Charitable Man, Kensei, and Our Edge. Really, I can see where any of the 7 can win this race, especially in view of the track condition. And if MTB didn’t get scratched, it would have been all 8 could win it!

James:
You didn’t come East for the Travers? I don’t blame you. Weather real bad today. I’m betting from home. And I could have a seat in the Box two rows behind Marylou’s today!

BTW, are you insinuating that Del Mar’s attendance is anywhere near what Saratoga draws? LOL.
Yes there are some “spinners” on Sundays when there is a give-a-way. But the freebies are really bad this year and there will be less spinners this year. Only one give-a-way left…next Sunday. But 40,000 of 52,000? Maybe the other way around! Spinners amount to 10% or less.
Are you coming out here anymore this Meet?

Are we stinkin’ up the joint, or what? Boxcars in all these races so far. My brothers are at the track and they say they’ve been waterboarded for every race but two. Hopefully they can get the Travers in before that intimidating line of thunderboomers, presently over Utica, further ruins the party.

AJ- I hope your son’s band is playing INSIDE today.

As for attendance, Del Mar averages a bit over 20,000 day to day. Saratoga is averaging 24,000 this year, but I would guess the real average, once the whirling dervish spinners on the three giveaway days are subtracted, is more like 21,000 – taking the total average of 24,500 and subtracting the giveaway day overage of approximately 20,000, and re dividing by the total days. So it looks like Saratoga gets about a thousand people, or 5%, more per day than Del Mar, which is statistical noise.

Considering other numbers- Today at Saratoga there were 139 entries and coming up to the King’s Bishop, there have been 38 scratches, which is a 27% scratch rate. Ouch.

There have been 3 runners from SoCal at Saratoga today- one won, one placed, and one showed, a bit of a blah showing this year.

I’d love to come back next weekend but there are two caveats. The weather-what’s new….- and Sunday’s Pacific Classic, which I’ve missed only once in 17 years. Sooo….have to check the forecast for next weekend and the draws Wednesday to see the quality of the fields for the Woodward and Pacific Classic, and either book a flight or stick around here on the Poly. Is you SoCal marine buddy coming back there next weekend?

DS Wins handicapping contest and now gets to choose the putatuve winner of the Rachel Alexander- Zenyatta race that will never take place because the Twin Towers of Velleity and Sissiness are afraid of the power of California women.

because team ZEN will hide in Cali/Poly we will NEVER get to see the race we all want to see…RAchel vs. Zen….since Mr. Fallon felt the need to have the race set up exactly the way Zen needs it to for her to have a chance…he pretty much admitted that ZEN would need the perfect pace and race scenario to beat the monster that Rachel has become…look at all the horses male and female she has beaten this yeat, and beaten badly…they come back and win…and win convincingly…I will not bash Zen the racehorse,,,only her connections for failing to take a mature 5 year old undefeated super fillie outside of their and probably he comfort zone…..bashing Assmussen/JAckson is unfounded given all the different real dirt surfaces they have raced on in different states and so on….On their best days…Zen would close to get within a couple lengths of the 2009 HOY Rachel Alexandra but would never get by Rachel not even after the run out…..

If it wasn’t for a $69 exacta I hit earlier on the card it would have been a real bad day. Got nosed in the 9th., and used the wrong runners with the winners of races 10-12.
James and ds….either of you going to be at the Spa next Saturday?
I already have seats, and found out today I have an outside chance of getting in one of those corporate luxury shanties by the clubhouse turn. Either way, long range weather forecast is for perfect day next Saturday…and I believe it may be the biggest non give-a-way crowd of the Meet.

ds:
LOL…..I’m sure glad I don’t have to sit through those long talent shows anymore. Last one was 1998. The kids are grown up now.
If you happen to be around the track Thursday, stop by Siro’s…Justin and Gravity are playing there at 6:00PM. My wife and I will be there too. Just let me know what hat you have on!

hey AJ…..that is great they are back for more, I was there for a bit the other time but never found where you guys were…..Thursday night JOURNEY is at SPAC so I will be going there for sure…..who knows maybe an hour to see Justin……I don’t weat hats right now since the one I do wear is a Mets hat and they are not worthy of my support this year…..

ds:
Coincidentally, I’m a Met fan too..was born in Flushing Hospital! And my Met hats and shirts have been put away till next year too.
Now it’s time for the J….E….T….S to let me down! LOL

Not a real big Journey fan, they are OK. They got this little Filipino guy singing leads now, but he sounds just like Perry. Personally, I prefer the opening act…always liked the Wilson sisters. Heart had some real good albums, especially the earlier ones like “Dreamboat Annie” and “Dog & Butterfly”.

actually AJ, concert is Wed., so Thurs. looks good for me to go to Siro’s!!! Wife has open house Thu for the studio so I will be flying solo…hopefully after hitting the late DD!!!!! See you there..what hat will you be wearing?????

ds: dark blue Del Mar or tannish Saratoga hat with a light blue rim.
I usually stand at the bar right in front of the stage. See you Thursday! Too bad James won’t be here…or will he?

Looking over the prospective field in the Woodward, I’m starting to realize this will be Rachel’s toughest test so far. Bullsbay, It’s a Bird, Macho Again ans Asiatic Boy have all posted impressive Beyers in recent races. And there’s always Zito’s two entries. This is a bunch of tough older males. Some good speed up front, along with some tough closers. Anyone who thinks this is a weaker field than the Travers should think again. It’s like a teenage girl running a foot race against adult men. It will be quite an accomplishment if she pulls it off. And she will be then certainly considered one of the greats of all time. On the same pedestal as Ruffian in my book.

Guys- Sorry I can’t make it to the Joanne Woodward stakes to see RA run. There has been an emergency call-up to by the SoCal Chapter of the Society to Preserve Polytrack to meet at the Santa Anita groundskeeper’s shed Friday to begin pre-emptive ‘watering’ of the Polytrack surface, which we feel may catch on fire with a reversal of wind direction from the San Bernardino foothill fires. We have all been encouraged to drink plenty of fluids and to begin a regimen on Lasix and front leg wraps starting today. It would be great if AJ, DS, $Scott, Glimmerglass and yes, even our spiritual leader -Tim- could help us in this endeavor. Would you all be willing to fly out here stat so we can keep the Polytrack surface well wetted to prevent a disaster from occurring to the track surface, which has recently been recognized as a National Treasure? As a bonus, we could then drive down to Del Mar to watch the storied Pacific Classic on Sunday.

DS- The Cuyahoga River burned in 1969 and if that event started the environmental movement, then a Polytrack fire could be precisely what is needed as a rallying point to bring dirt back to Santa Anita.

But let’s look at the potential upside. If the rubberized conglomerate does catch on fire, and you guys do fly out here from Albany to help put it out- thus inaugurating the Micturition Stakes, you could also each bring out some Saratoga dirt to SA. We could use said dirt to create an unique inner circumference on the Polytrack so that Rachel Alexandra would have her own special lane to race on. This could be the first affirmative action racing surface, and the shorter length would further level the playing field for certain specially chosen horses. Our new SCOTUS judge could even anoint the new stakes race- The PC Classic, or perhaps the Wisdom Hustle Unhandicap?

James: That was funny. Come on…it would be good if it all the rubber burned up. Then you can restore old SA to it’s glory days by giving back it’s real surface!
I’m sure the Pacific Classic will be a fine race, but everyone at Del Mar will have their eyes on Saratoga Saturday at about 3:00PM. Good luck with your wagers this weekend.
Keep in touch.

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AJ- I want a do-over on the handicapping contest this weekend at both venues, let’s say the Woodward and Forego at Saratoga on Saturday and the Pacific Classic, Del Mar Derby, Pat O’brien and Torrey Pine at Del Mar on Sunday and the Spinaway and Saranac at Saratoga on Sunday? . DS kicked our butts in grand fashion last weekend, and I feel handicapped by having to make picks on the dirt, as opposed to the you-know-what.

And don’t forget, the Fairplex meet starts Thursday and that is the only racing venue that has a stakes race EVERY DAY.

James:
How come “super mare” Zenyatta passed up the Pacific Classic? Her connections continue to duck any real competition while Rachel the Great continues to take on real challenges. That’s why the HOTY competition is over. I just don’t get Zen’s connection’s reasoning anymore. Is going undefeated, no matter how much you damage her legacy, worth it?

I think her cycle time is one race every two months and following this pattern, her Clement Hirsch race on August 9 should be followed by a race in early October, so that would probably be the Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita on October 10th. The BC is on Nov 7th so that would be a push for her. I’m just guessing of course but the combined advantaged of getting a race in on SA, and following the same pattern of Hirsch-Lady’s Secret-BC would be the conservative route for her.

The Pacific Classic has come up rather tough, with 10 pretty good horses entered. Look at these guys:

Well, sorry James, but five starts all year just don’t cut it if she is in fact healthy. Nor does the fact she hasn’t beaten anything so far this year. There is absolutely no comparison to Zen’s and RA’s respective 2009 campaigns. Again, I just don’t get their reluctance to race her more and in better company, namely the colts.
And, by the way, the Pacific field looks no tougher than the Woodward field. Fairly comparable based on Beyers. She’d have a shot at winning it, wouldn’t you say? I guess Moss feels otherwise.

hey AJ, working on a special guest for tomorrow night…looking forward to meeting you

As far as Zen., I couldn’t agree more, the mare has beaten up on mediocre at best fillies, why not take a shot against the boys, that list while decent, is no better than the east coast group, except for the poly/real dirt angle..Einstein and Colonel John are the two I will make an exception for. Rail Trip is extremely talented but again, unproven on real dirt and that disappoints me as Ron Ellis I like as a trainer…

RA pulling away in the stretch will be something to behold on Saturday and I sure hope the weather reports stay and a mid 70′s sunny say for 40K + to see the 2009 HOY superstar and history maker

Special guest? Looking forward to it.
Just hope I have a few bucks left by the time I get to Siro’s!
BTW, are you going to the track tomorrow? They are going to school Rachel in the paddock during race #5. Bringing my camera. I did the same thing last year when they schooled Curlin the Thursday before the Woodward. Got some great pics…hope to do the same tomorrow.